At Lowry Engineering we engineer and build water treatment solution to address the rigorous standards set by the EPA and other regulatory agencies. Below are the main categories of contaminants that our solutions eliminate.

Radionuclides

Radionuclides (radioisotopes) are atoms which are unstable due to excess nuclear energy. They undergo a process of radioactive decay, becoming progressively more stable as energy is released as either radiation of gamma waves, or as an alpha and/or beta particle. In ground water, radionuclides are generally naturally occurring, from one or more of three natural decay series: uranium-238, thorium-232, and uranium-235. Isotopes are present in rock formations and can dissolve into groundwater. Uranium, radium, and radon are the primary isotopes found in groundwater supplies.

Problem

The health concerns from prolonged consumption of short lived radionuclides come from the fact that these contaminants are radioactive, and may cause physical damage to tissue. Concern for ingestion of uranium is based upon metal toxicity and may lead to kidney damage.

Research

Lowry Engineering conducted and published much of the pioneering research on radionuclides, especially radon, in drinking water, beginning in 1980. Removal of radon from drinking water by both granular activated carbon (GAC) and by air stripping were defined and developed by Lowry throughout the 1980’s. Based on this work, the generally accepted method for removing radon from water is air stripping.

Design

Radon is a gas and can be removed from drinking water using air stripping. The technology we use is our own, patented,DeepBubbleTM (NOTE TM should be superscripted in all places) air stripping system. Other radionuclides, including radium and uranium, are removed by ion exchange. The design of your specific case will be based on the flow rate, contaminant, contaminant concentration, as well as requirements for disposal of the radioactive material.
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VOCs

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are natural and man-made organic chemicals that can contaminate water supplies. Examples of VOCs include naturally-occurring methane, vinyl chloride (VC) from the plastics industry, cleaning solvents such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), and gasoline components such as benzene, toluene and xylene.

Problem

Exposure to VOCs has the potential to cause a wide range of serious health problems, from anemia and decrease of blood platelets to liver problems, cancer, and nerve damage. For these reasons, the U.S. EPA regulates individual VOCs in drinking water.

Research

Lowry Engineering has been removing VOCs from drinking water for over 30 years, having completed definitive research throughout the 1980’s on removing gasoline contamination caused by leaking underground storage tanks (LUST). Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), a gasoline additive manufactured in the 1970’s, was shown to be one of the most difficult to strip VOCs. In 2014, Lowry Engineering conducted a study for the U.S. EPA on the effectiveness of air stripping 13 VOCs from drinking water as part of the process of updating current regulation of VOCs in drinking water.

Design

Many of the regulated VOCs are volatile enough to be removed by air stripping. The technology we use is our own patented DeepBubbleTM multi-stage diffused bubble air stripper system. The specific system design for any given application is determined by water flow rate, water temperature, particular contaminant(s) and their concentration(s), as well as some other water quality parameters.

Corrosion Control / pH Adjustment

Corrosive drinking water can dissolve plumbing and fixtures, thereby becoming contaminated with metals such as lead and copper. This type of drinking water typically has low pH (acidic), usually caused by naturally occurring dissolved carbon dioxide. Air stripping eliminates the need for an addition of corrosion chemicals.

Problem

The main health concern with corrosive drinking water is that it becomes contaminated with lead and copper. Consuming these metals in sufficient amounts can cause liver and kidney damage, as well as physical and mental development issues in children.

Research

We have published papers that define the removal of carbon dioxide as a solution to corrosive groundwater and associated lead and copper issues. (See published papers under “corrosion” in Resources section.)

Design

DeepBubble systems are designed to provide a non-chemical solution to problems with corrosion (Pb & Cu) in distribution systems. The natural carbon dioxide is air-stripped and the pH is raised. Superior water quality is achieved using air stripping versus chemical addition. Operation is much easier. Air stripping eliminates the need for an addition of caustic and/or phosphates.